Christopher Roddick

Christopher Roddick began his career many years ago at the Scott Arboretum, where he almost overcame his fear of heights as the campus arborist. After spending the next 30 years as the Head Arborist and Foreman of Grounds at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, he moved to southern New England to start Sweet Birch Land & Tree, an arboricultural consultancy and practice. By looking at trees as tree-based ecosystems, Chris follows a holistic approach to caring for trees and land called Conservation Arboriculture. This method uses a modern understanding of tree, soil biology, and ecology as a base for maintenance and cultivation decisions. He consults on veteran tree care, species selection, habit formation, and conducts specialized pruning. Chris also teaches, lectures, and gives staff training on conservation tree care and pruning.

Chris is an ISA Certified Arborist and a NOFA AOLCP. He is the author of the Tree Care Primer, a guide to care for young, mature, and veteran trees. When he’s not working, he is often on an expedition, traveling to the Neo-Tropical forests where he helps conduct canopy research as a climber and really bad camp cook.